By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team Last verified: August 5, 2026 · Dataset version 1.0 Primary source data prepared by NABP March 16, 2026.
Castleport Research is an independent research and reference section published by Castleport Test Prep.
Independence disclosure: Castleport Test Prep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to NABP, ACPE, Pearson VUE, any board of pharmacy, or any pharmacy school named here. Names and trademarks are used only to identify the sources, exams, and programs discussed.
What do the 2025 NAPLEX pass rates by pharmacy school show?
The first-time NAPLEX pass rate rose from 75.9% in 2024 to 86.8% in 2025. Among 140 schools with a current rate in both years, 127 improved. Yet 98 had less cushion against the benchmark under ACPE’s published formula because that benchmark rose from 46.8% to 62.7%.
The 2025 first-time NAPLEX pass rate rose from 75.9% to 86.8%. Among 140 schools with a rate in both years, 127 improved—but 98 ended with less cushion against the benchmark under ACPE’s published formula because the benchmark rose from 46.8% to 62.7%.
Almost every school’s reported rate went up. Most lost cushion against the benchmark.
That second finding needs one clean split. Of the 127 schools that improved, 42 improved by more than the benchmark rose. The other 85 improved but lost cushion. Twelve schools declined and one stayed flat, so 13 more also lost cushion. That makes 98 in all.
2025 NAPLEX at a glance
| Measure | Verified result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate-wide first-time pass rate | 86.8% | 9,869 first attempts, with each attempt weighted equally |
| Published mean school first-time rate | 85.7% | 142 school rates, with each school weighted equally |
| Schools that improved | 127 of 140 | Schools with a current rate in both 2024 and 2025 |
| Schools with less benchmark cushion | 98 of 140 | 85 improved by less than the benchmark rose; 13 did not improve |
| Current school-rate range | 55.3% to 100.0% | 141 schools with a nonblank 2025 rate |
| First attempts | 9,869 | Down 11.4% from 2024 and 19.8% from 2023 |
Source: NABP, “Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates,” prepared March 16, 2026, NABP’s 2015–2025 trend report, and Castleport Research calculations from the published school rows. Last verified August 5, 2026.
What was the NAPLEX pass rate in 2025?
The national first-time pass rate was 86.8% across 9,869 first attempts by 2025 graduates of ACPE-accredited institutions who also tested in 2025. The all-attempt rate was 85.6% across 10,632 attempts.
The NAPLEX is the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. NABP administers it. Boards of pharmacy use it as one part of the licensure process to assess a candidate’s competence, and only boards of pharmacy issue licenses.
A first-time rate counts each person’s first attempt. An all-attempt rate counts all scored attempts in the group, including retakes. NABP groups people by both graduation year and testing year, so a 2025 graduate who tested outside 2025 is not in this report.
NABP publishes rounded school rates, not raw pass counts. Each nonblank school-year row had exactly one whole-number pass count compatible with its attempt count and printed one-decimal rate. Summing the 2025 school reconstructions and adding the archived Harding row gives 8,567 first-time passes and 1,302 first-time failures. The national 86.8% alone does not identify a unique pass count. These counts are Castleport calculations, not fields printed by NABP.
National NAPLEX figures, 2023–2025
| Graduation year | Candidate-wide first-time rate | First attempts | All-attempt rate | All attempts | Mean school first-time rate | Published school count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 76.4% | 12,305 | 71.2% | 16,275 | 75.5% | 143 |
| 2024 | 75.9% | 11,136 | 72.2% | 14,316 | 74.3% | 142 |
| 2025 | 86.8% | 9,869 | 85.6% | 10,632 | 85.7% | 142 |
Source: NABP, “Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates,” Table 1 and Table 2. Reconstructed pass and fail counts are Castleport calculations.
First-time NAPLEX pass rates, 2015–2025
| Graduation year | First-time NAPLEX pass rate |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 92.0% |
| 2016 | 86.0% |
| 2017 | 87.0% |
| 2018 | 88.2% |
| 2019 | 87.0% |
| 2020 | 86.2% |
| 2021 | 81.7% |
| 2022 | 77.3% |
| 2023 | 76.4% |
| 2024 | 75.9% |
| 2025 | 86.8% |
Source: NABP, “NAPLEX and MPJE Passing Rates for 2015–2025 Graduates,” prepared February 2, 2026.

Chart source: NABP’s published candidate-wide first-time rates. Visualization by Castleport Research, last verified August 5, 2026.
2025 was the highest first-time rate since 2019, but it was still 0.2 percentage point below 2019’s 87.0%. The 10.9-point rise from 2024 was the largest one-year move in NABP’s published 2015–2025 series.
Why does NABP publish both 86.8% and 85.7%?
Both numbers are correct. The 86.8% figure gives every first attempt equal weight. The 85.7% figure gives every school equal weight, so a school with 8 candidates counts the same as one with 203.
The two figures sit in separate tables in the same report:
- 86.8% answers, “How did all first-time candidates do?”
- 85.7% answers, “What was the mean of the school rates?”
Here is a small example. School A has 100 students and 90 pass. School B has 10 students and 5 pass.
- Count the people: 95 of 110 passed, or 86.4%.
- Count the two school rates equally: (90% + 50%) ÷ 2, or 70.0%.
Same results. Different denominator. The real 2025 gap is 1.1 points, but the reason is the same.
Use 86.8% when writing about candidates. Use 85.7% when writing about the mean school rate. Always name the measure.
Source: NABP’s March 16, 2026 school report, Tables 1 and 2.
What NAPLEX pass-rate benchmark applies to pharmacy schools?
ACPE Policy 11.6.1 says a program’s first-time NAPLEX pass rate must equal or exceed the national average minus two standard deviations or 60%, whichever is greater. Using NABP’s published 2025 school summary, that benchmark is 62.7%.
ACPE is the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Before applying for the NAPLEX, a candidate generally needs an entry-level degree from an ACPE-accredited school or FPGEC certification. The board of pharmacy still decides exam eligibility and whether to issue a license.
A standard deviation shows how spread out school rates are. NABP publishes the mean school rate, the standard deviation, and the figure two standard deviations below the mean.
The published benchmark changed sharply in 2025
| Graduating class | Mean school rate | Standard deviation | Two SD below the mean | Policy context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75.5% | 11.1 | 53.3% | The 60% floor was not yet effective. |
| 2024 | 74.3% | 13.8 | 46.8% | ACPE’s June 2025 Board actions used the two-SD threshold. |
| 2025 | 85.7% | 11.5 | 62.7% | The 60% floor was effective, and 62.7% was the greater figure. |
Source: NABP’s school summary, Table 2 and ACPE Policy 11.6.1, effective July 1, 2025.
The two-SD figure rose 15.9 points, from 46.8% for 2024 graduates to 62.7% for 2025 graduates. For 2025, 62.7% was also higher than the new 60% floor, so it was the greater figure in the policy formula.
What happens after a low result
ACPE’s policy gives a five-step sequence within a seven-year period:
- First occurrence: a letter, a root-cause review, and an action plan.
- Second occurrence: a focused evaluation of compliance with accreditation standards.
- Third occurrence: the program may be asked to meet with the ACPE Board.
- Fourth occurrence: the program may be placed on probation.
- Fifth occurrence: accreditation may be withdrawn.
ACPE also reviews programs with a high number of first-time failures even when the rate is above the percentage benchmark. The written policy calls the trigger 30 or more first-time failures.
The official letter count and the public data do not reconcile
ACPE says it sent 15 high-failure letters after its June 2025 review. The public 2024 NABP rows produce 22 programs at 30 or more reconstructed failures, or 19 if the Board slide’s wording of “more than 30” is used. The public rounded report is therefore not enough to identify which programs received letters.
| Measure | Count | What the count is |
|---|---|---|
| ACPE letters for rates below the two-SD threshold | 3 | Official June 2025 Board count |
| ACPE letters for more than 30 first-time failures | 15 | Official June 2025 Board count |
| Public 2024 rows with 30 or more reconstructed failures and a rate above 46.8% | 22 | Castleport screen from rounded NABP data |
| Public 2024 rows with more than 30 reconstructed failures and a rate above 46.8% | 19 | Castleport screen using the wording on ACPE’s Board slide |
| ACPE letters for campus-rate discrepancies | 4 | Official June 2025 Board count |
Source: ACPE’s official update on its January and June 2025 Board meetings, ACPE’s written policy notice, and Castleport reconstruction from NABP’s rounded 2024 school rows.
This mismatch matters. The public rows are from a March 2026 report, while ACPE’s official count came from June 2025. The 2024 rows may have changed between those dates, and NABP rounds the rates. The mismatch is not proof of an ACPE error. It shows that the current public PDF cannot reconstruct the Board’s action list. A public screen can show which programs match a rule as written. It cannot prove what ACPE reviewed, what internal data it used, or which programs received a letter.
Applying the written 30-or-more screen to the current 2025 rows produces five programs. This is a Castleport screen only. It is not a list of ACPE actions.
| Program | First attempts | First-time rate | Reconstructed first-time failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy | 191 | 75.9% | 46 |
| Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy | 203 | 80.8% | 39 |
| Long Island University Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 155 | 78.1% | 34 |
| MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Boston | 139 | 78.4% | 30 |
| Midwestern University College of Pharmacy | 153 | 80.4% | 30 |
Source: Castleport reconstruction from NABP’s March 16, 2026 school rows. Percentages are rounded by NABP; reconstructed failures are not official NABP fields.
Why schools publish their own NAPLEX result
ACPE’s Spring 2026 update says each accredited program must post the latest first-time NAPLEX result from NABP on its website. That is why school outcome pages often repeat the same number.
Source: ACPE Update, Spring 2026.
Most schools improved, but most lost benchmark cushion
Of 140 schools with a current first-time rate in both 2024 and 2025, 127 improved, 12 declined, and 1 stayed flat. Only 42 gained cushion against the published benchmark. Eighty-five improved but lost cushion, and 13 did not improve, for 98 with less cushion in all.
| Measure | Schools | Share of 140 |
|---|---|---|
| Improved their first-time rate | 127 | 90.7% |
| Improved by at least 10 percentage points | 68 | 48.6% |
| Improved and gained benchmark cushion | 42 | 30.0% |
| Improved but lost benchmark cushion | 85 | 60.7% |
| Declined or stayed flat and also lost cushion | 13 | 9.3% |
| Total with less cushion than in 2024 | 98 | 70.0% |
Source: Castleport calculation from NABP’s current school rows. “Cushion” is the published school rate minus 46.8% in 2024 or 62.7% in 2025. It is an editorial comparison measure, not an ACPE action record.
A clean example is the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Its rate rose from 82.2% to 82.9%. Its published-rate margin moved from 35.4 points above the 2024 figure to 20.2 points above the 2025 figure. Its rate improved, but its cushion fell 15.2 points.
This does not mean the 98 schools are in trouble. Most are well above 62.7%. It means one thing only: a better-looking 2025 rate did not always create more room above the annual comparison benchmark.
Why did NAPLEX pass rates jump 10.9 points in one year?
No primary source has published a proven cause. NABP’s national data show that the NAPLEX first-time rate rose 10.9 points while the MPJE first-time rate fell 0.8 point. That contrast is real, but the two candidate groups are not matched, so it cannot prove why the NAPLEX moved.
The MPJE is a pharmacy law exam used by many jurisdictions. NABP publishes national NAPLEX and MPJE rates by graduation year in one report.
NAPLEX and MPJE first-time rates, 2015–2025
| Graduation year | NAPLEX | Change | MPJE | Change | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 92.0% | — | 89.0% | — | 3.0 |
| 2016 | 86.0% | −6.0 | 82.6% | −6.4 | 3.4 |
| 2017 | 87.0% | +1.0 | 82.1% | −0.5 | 4.9 |
| 2018 | 88.2% | +1.2 | 81.6% | −0.5 | 6.6 |
| 2019 | 87.0% | −1.2 | 81.1% | −0.5 | 5.9 |
| 2020 | 86.2% | −0.8 | 81.1% | 0.0 | 5.1 |
| 2021 | 81.7% | −4.5 | 77.4% | −3.7 | 4.3 |
| 2022 | 77.3% | −4.4 | 74.2% | −3.2 | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 76.4% | −0.9 | 72.7% | −1.5 | 3.7 |
| 2024 | 75.9% | −0.5 | 75.3% | +2.6 | 0.6 |
| 2025 | 86.8% | +10.9 | 74.5% | −0.8 | 12.3 |
Source: NABP’s 2015–2025 NAPLEX and MPJE report. Change and gap columns calculated by Castleport Research.
From 2015 through 2024, the NAPLEX–MPJE gap ranged from 0.6 to 6.6 points. In 2025 it was 12.3 points, or about 1.9 times the prior high in this series.
Measured another way, the two year-over-year changes differed by 11.7 points in 2025. From 2016 through 2024, the largest difference in either direction was 3.1 points.
What this shows: the NAPLEX rebound was not mirrored in the MPJE aggregate.
What this does not show: it does not prove the NAPLEX became easier, that candidates became stronger, or that any one change caused the rise. The groups are not matched, and not every NAPLEX candidate takes the MPJE.
NABP’s current bulletin says the ability level that defines the NAPLEX passing standard is the same across administrations. NABP also says a scaled score of 75 or higher represents passing, although candidates now receive Pass or Fail rather than a reported scaled score.
Source: NABP’s candidate results bulletin and NABP’s passing-score explanation.
What changed in the exam materials
NABP’s new NAPLEX Content Outline took effect for exams given on or after May 1, 2025. The outline came from an entry-level practice analysis and replaced the prior format used to describe tested content.
The school report does not publish exam dates. It includes 2025 graduates who tested in 2025, so it can contain exams from both before and after May 1. The split is unknown.
The timing overlaps with the rebound. It does not establish cause.
Source: NABP NAPLEX Content Outline, effective May 1, 2025 and NABP’s school-report inclusion rules.
Why do the current 2025 school rows not match NABP’s summary?
NABP’s current March 16 detail table has 141 nonblank 2025 school rows, 9,868 first attempts, and 10,630 all attempts. Its summary still reports 142 schools, 9,869 first attempts, and 10,632 all attempts. An archived January 22 version contains the one missing school row: Harding University with 1 first attempt and 2 all attempts, all at 0.0%.
We found this the boring way: we added every row and checked the sums against NABP’s totals.
- 2023 matched: 12,305 first attempts and 16,275 all attempts.
- 2024 matched: 11,136 first attempts and 14,316 all attempts.
- 2025 did not: the current detail rows were short by 1 first attempt and 2 all attempts.
The archived January report supplied exactly that difference. The current report replaces Harding’s 2025 values with dashes and says Harding students graduate only in December and will be counted in the next report.
The safe conclusion is narrow: the current detail table and current summary appear to reflect different report versions.
Adding the archived Harding row reproduces the summary
| Measure | Current March detail rows | Archived Harding row | Reconciled total | Published summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools with 2025 values | 141 | 1 | 142 | 142 |
| First attempts | 9,868 | 1 | 9,869 | 9,869 |
| All attempts | 10,630 | 2 | 10,632 | 10,632 |
| Mean school first-time rate | 86.35% | 0.0% added | 85.74% | 85.7% |
| Sample SD of school first-time rates | 8.96 | 0.0% added | 11.50 | 11.5 |
| Mean minus two sample SD | 68.43% | 0.0% added | 62.75% | 62.7% |
Source: Castleport recomputation from the current March 16 report and archived January 22 report. Standard deviations above are sample standard deviations.
Using only the 141 current rates gives a mean of 86.35%, a sample standard deviation of 8.96, and a two-SD figure of 68.43%. Adding Harding’s archived 0.0% rate gives 85.74%, 11.50, and 62.75%, which round to NABP’s published 85.7%, 11.5, and 62.7%.
The two-SD figure differs by about 5.7 percentage points depending on whether that one-candidate 0.0% row is included. The row raises the sample standard deviation from 8.96 to 11.50, an increase of about 28%.
Three schools sit between 62.7% and 68.4%
| Program | 2025 first-time rate | First attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester University College of Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy | 66.7% | 36 |
| Pacific University School of Pharmacy | 66.7% | 39 |
| Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy | 66.7% | 42 |
Source: Castleport comparison using NABP’s current school rates.
We do not know which figure ACPE used in practice or whether any letter was sent. ACPE does not publish program-level letter decisions in these sources. This table does not say the three programs did anything wrong.
The broader lesson is simple: a two-standard-deviation benchmark can be sensitive to an extreme rate from a very small cohort.
Report version log
| Report version | Prepared | 2025 school values shown | First attempts in detail rows | All attempts in detail rows | Summary says |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archived | January 22, 2026 | 142 | 9,869 | 10,632 | 142 schools; 9,869 first attempts; mean 85.7% |
| Current | March 16, 2026 | 141 | 9,868 | 10,630 | 142 schools; 9,869 first attempts; mean 85.7% |
Source: the archived January report, the current March report, and Castleport row totals.
File checksums recorded from the copies downloaded August 5, 2026:
- March 16, 2026 version, SHA-256:
17b761665c80cb089d6fcd355d34a7b1738d588647c37c4769c6bb3434673163 - January 22, 2026 version, SHA-256:
b6f4804039f23232d5b9b0c769e47a4319d1830961c9b8fec5682ed3b3868362
A different checksum means the file bytes differ from the copy we checked. Recheck the prepared date, Harding row, totals, and summary before treating it as the same version.
NAPLEX pass rates by pharmacy school: all 141 current programs with data
This table contains every school with a nonblank 2025 first-time rate in NABP’s current report. Read the rate beside the attempt count. The last column is the school’s margin against the published 62.7% benchmark; it does not show whether ACPE sent a letter.
The current PDF contains 144 named school rows across the three years. California Health Sciences University, Hampton University, and Harding University have no current 2025 rate, leaving 141 rows below.
This is a rate reference, not a school-quality rating.
| # | Pharmacy school | 2023 rate | 2024 rate | 2025 first-time rate | 2025 first attempts | 2025 all-attempt rate | Change 2024→2025 | Margin vs published 62.7% benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences School of Pharmacy | 68.1% | 74.8% | 84.3% | 121 | 82.8% | +9.5 | +21.6 |
| 2 | American University of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy | 40.9% | 50.0% | 87.5% | 8 | 87.5% | +37.5 | +24.8 |
| 3 | Appalachian College of Pharmacy | 64.6% | 63.9% | 75.7% | 37 | 73.2% | +11.8 | +13.0 |
| 4 | Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy | 85.6% | 80.5% | 83.6% | 128 | 79.5% | +3.1 | +20.9 |
| 5 | Belmont University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 75.7% | 68.9% | 81.1% | 53 | 81.4% | +12.2 | +18.4 |
| 6 | Binghamton University State University of New York School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 70.1% | 84.9% | 90.2% | 61 | 89.2% | +5.3 | +27.5 |
| 7 | Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 89.7% | 90.7% | 92.9% | 70 | 92.0% | +2.2 | +30.2 |
| 8 | California Northstate University College of Pharmacy | 61.6% | 56.5% | 59.6% | 57 | 61.9% | +3.1 | −3.1 |
| 9 | Campbell University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 83.1% | 81.8% | 89.4% | 66 | 88.7% | +7.6 | +26.7 |
| 10 | Cedarville University School of Pharmacy | 74.4% | 59.5% | 84.8% | 33 | 85.7% | +25.3 | +22.1 |
| 11 | Chapman University School of Pharmacy | 83.6% | 80.0% | 93.7% | 63 | 93.7% | +13.7 | +31.0 |
| 12 | Chicago State University College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy School of Pharmacy | 60.0% | 42.9% | 87.5% | 8 | 87.5% | +44.6 | +24.8 |
| 13 | Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy | 91.7% | 80.8% | 77.8% | 36 | 77.3% | −3.0 | +15.1 |
| 14 | Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions | 75.6% | 86.7% | 89.5% | 76 | 90.2% | +2.8 | +26.8 |
| 15 | Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 80.6% | 80.9% | 85.2% | 61 | 84.3% | +4.3 | +22.5 |
| 16 | Duquesne University School of Pharmacy | 85.0% | 82.9% | 91.7% | 108 | 92.2% | +8.8 | +29.0 |
| 17 | D’Youville University School of Pharmacy | 69.6% | 66.7% | 70.0% | 60 | 68.1% | +3.3 | +7.3 |
| 18 | East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy | 95.4% | 76.9% | 97.7% | 44 | 97.8% | +20.8 | +35.0 |
| 19 | Fairleigh Dickinson University School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | 59.1% | 74.3% | 85.4% | 48 | 84.0% | +11.1 | +22.7 |
| 20 | Ferris State University College of Pharmacy | 72.9% | 73.6% | 94.4% | 90 | 94.7% | +20.8 | +31.7 |
| 21 | Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health | 67.4% | 69.3% | 89.8% | 49 | 90.2% | +20.5 | +27.1 |
| 22 | High Point University Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy | 73.2% | 67.3% | 73.5% | 49 | 72.1% | +6.2 | +10.8 |
| 23 | Howard University College of Pharmacy | 51.1% | 61.5% | 84.4% | 32 | 86.1% | +22.9 | +21.7 |
| 24 | Husson University College of Health and Pharmacy School of Pharmacy | 72.7% | 78.9% | 100.0% | 10 | 100.0% | +21.1 | +37.3 |
| 25 | Idaho State University L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy | 76.3% | 78.7% | 97.9% | 47 | 97.9% | +19.2 | +35.2 |
| 26 | Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 71.4% | 63.8% | 86.1% | 36 | 84.6% | +22.3 | +23.4 |
| 27 | Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy | 62.5% | 62.4% | 75.9% | 191 | 75.8% | +13.5 | +13.2 |
| 28 | Larkin University College of Pharmacy | 50.0% | 35.7% | 77.8% | 18 | 71.4% | +42.1 | +15.1 |
| 29 | Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy | 84.6% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8 | 100.0% | 0.0 | +37.3 |
| 30 | Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy | 72.7% | 57.1% | 94.1% | 34 | 94.4% | +37.0 | +31.4 |
| 31 | Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy | 77.8% | 68.4% | 88.1% | 42 | 84.4% | +19.7 | +25.4 |
| 32 | Long Island University Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 65.3% | 61.7% | 78.1% | 155 | 75.6% | +16.4 | +15.4 |
| 33 | MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Boston | 62.2% | 65.8% | 78.4% | 139 | 79.0% | +12.6 | +15.7 |
| 34 | MCPHS University School of Pharmacy - Worcester | 57.3% | 77.3% | 79.1% | 91 | 77.2% | +1.8 | +16.4 |
| 35 | Manchester University College of Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy | 69.1% | 63.3% | 66.7% | 36 | 61.9% | +3.4 | +4.0 |
| 36 | Marshall B. Ketchum University College of Pharmacy | 63.0% | 61.7% | 84.0% | 25 | 84.6% | +22.3 | +21.3 |
| 37 | Marshall University School of Pharmacy | 56.9% | 68.9% | 92.0% | 25 | 92.3% | +23.1 | +29.3 |
| 38 | Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy | 64.9% | 72.2% | 86.8% | 38 | 87.2% | +14.6 | +24.1 |
| 39 | Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | 65.6% | 85.5% | 86.9% | 61 | 86.6% | +1.4 | +24.2 |
| 40 | Mercer University College of Pharmacy | 76.0% | 68.4% | 78.7% | 94 | 76.1% | +10.3 | +16.0 |
| 41 | Midwestern University College of Pharmacy | 71.4% | 65.7% | 80.4% | 153 | 78.3% | +14.7 | +17.7 |
| 42 | North Dakota State University College of Health and Human Sciences School of Pharmacy | 86.3% | 84.2% | 93.8% | 48 | 92.2% | +9.6 | +31.1 |
| 43 | Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy | 73.5% | 79.8% | 91.1% | 45 | 89.6% | +11.3 | +28.4 |
| 44 | Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 87.0% | 90.1% | 93.8% | 64 | 93.9% | +3.7 | +31.1 |
| 45 | Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy | 63.0% | 39.4% | 55.9% | 34 | 59.1% | +16.5 | −6.8 |
| 46 | Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy | 69.9% | 69.6% | 80.8% | 203 | 80.0% | +11.2 | +18.1 |
| 47 | Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy | 88.1% | 87.8% | 96.0% | 99 | 96.1% | +8.2 | +33.3 |
| 48 | Ohio State University College of Pharmacy | 92.5% | 89.5% | 93.6% | 109 | 91.5% | +4.1 | +30.9 |
| 49 | Oregon State University College of Pharmacy | 80.8% | 96.5% | 79.3% | 58 | 77.9% | −17.2 | +16.6 |
| 50 | Pacific University School of Pharmacy | 56.4% | 67.6% | 66.7% | 39 | 68.9% | −0.9 | +4.0 |
| 51 | Palm Beach Atlantic University Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy | 83.3% | 75.0% | 88.2% | 34 | 86.8% | +13.2 | +25.5 |
| 52 | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia School of Pharmacy | 48.6% | 50.7% | 55.3% | 38 | 53.3% | +4.6 | −7.4 |
| 53 | Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy | 85.4% | 82.6% | 93.1% | 29 | 93.3% | +10.5 | +30.4 |
| 54 | Purdue University College of Pharmacy | 86.4% | 79.4% | 86.6% | 134 | 85.2% | +7.2 | +23.9 |
| 55 | Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions School of Pharmacy | 73.9% | 77.4% | 81.8% | 44 | 75.0% | +4.4 | +19.1 |
| 56 | Roosevelt University College of Science, Health and Pharmacy | 66.7% | 57.1% | 87.9% | 33 | 88.6% | +30.8 | +25.2 |
| 57 | Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science College of Pharmacy | 54.1% | 65.3% | 82.1% | 28 | 76.7% | +16.8 | +19.4 |
| 58 | Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy | 79.0% | 70.4% | 77.6% | 107 | 76.9% | +7.2 | +14.9 |
| 59 | Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy | 89.1% | 84.1% | 94.8% | 134 | 94.9% | +10.7 | +32.1 |
| 60 | Saint Joseph’s University Philadelphia College of Pharmacy | 60.8% | 65.8% | 83.2% | 125 | 81.8% | +17.4 | +20.5 |
| 61 | Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy | 82.2% | 70.0% | 77.9% | 68 | 72.2% | +7.9 | +15.2 |
| 62 | Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy | 61.9% | 58.6% | 66.7% | 42 | 68.1% | +8.1 | +4.0 |
| 63 | South College School of Pharmacy | 71.6% | 86.0% | 81.4% | 43 | 80.4% | −4.6 | +18.7 |
| 64 | South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions | 92.3% | 98.3% | 94.1% | 51 | 94.4% | −4.2 | +31.4 |
| 65 | South University School of Pharmacy | 63.6% | 59.3% | 81.0% | 58 | 78.5% | +21.7 | +18.3 |
| 66 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy | 80.3% | 75.4% | 88.9% | 63 | 86.4% | +13.5 | +26.2 |
| 67 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy | 87.3% | 88.9% | 93.3% | 45 | 93.6% | +4.4 | +30.6 |
| 68 | St John’s University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 71.0% | 69.8% | 90.2% | 163 | 89.3% | +20.4 | +27.5 |
| 69 | St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy | 78.3% | 76.7% | 85.2% | 81 | 83.9% | +8.5 | +22.5 |
| 70 | Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 68.4% | 56.1% | 84.6% | 26 | 85.2% | +28.5 | +21.9 |
| 71 | Temple University School of Pharmacy | 66.2% | 63.7% | 79.8% | 104 | 79.3% | +16.1 | +17.1 |
| 72 | Texas A&M University Health Science Center Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy | 69.8% | 65.0% | 85.5% | 110 | 83.1% | +20.5 | +22.8 |
| 73 | Texas Southern University Joan M. Lafleur College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 73.6% | 53.4% | 58.3% | 36 | 61.4% | +4.9 | −4.4 |
| 74 | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy | 80.4% | 86.4% | 93.1% | 87 | 90.3% | +6.7 | +30.4 |
| 75 | Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson College of Pharmacy | 82.7% | 89.2% | 79.2% | 24 | 81.5% | −10.0 | +16.5 |
| 76 | Touro University - California College of Pharmacy | 60.9% | 80.3% | 75.0% | 44 | 74.5% | −5.3 | +12.3 |
| 77 | Touro University Touro College of Pharmacy | 77.3% | 70.7% | 93.2% | 44 | 93.3% | +22.5 | +30.5 |
| 78 | Union University College of Pharmacy | 86.1% | 92.3% | 95.8% | 24 | 96.0% | +3.5 | +33.1 |
| 79 | University at Buffalo The State University of New York School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 87.0% | 86.1% | 96.3% | 82 | 96.4% | +10.2 | +33.6 |
| 80 | University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy | 65.5% | 78.5% | 86.7% | 113 | 86.3% | +8.2 | +24.0 |
| 81 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy | 83.8% | 82.2% | 82.9% | 82 | 79.6% | +0.7 | +20.2 |
| 82 | University of California, Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | — | — | 88.6% | 35 | 86.1% | — | +25.9 |
| 83 | University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 89.3% | 92.5% | 96.7% | 61 | 96.8% | +4.2 | +34.0 |
| 84 | University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy | 82.6% | 89.2% | 93.6% | 94 | 93.9% | +4.4 | +30.9 |
| 85 | University of Charleston School of Pharmacy | 64.1% | 58.3% | 69.2% | 26 | 66.7% | +10.9 | +6.5 |
| 86 | University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy | 90.2% | 76.2% | 96.5% | 57 | 95.0% | +20.3 | +33.8 |
| 87 | University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 82.7% | 69.9% | 77.2% | 79 | 77.3% | +7.3 | +14.5 |
| 88 | University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy | 76.7% | 80.8% | 94.3% | 70 | 94.4% | +13.5 | +31.6 |
| 89 | University of Findlay College of Pharmacy | 80.0% | 83.3% | 94.7% | 38 | 95.0% | +11.4 | +32.0 |
| 90 | University of Florida College of Pharmacy | 87.3% | 88.2% | 94.8% | 191 | 94.4% | +6.6 | +32.1 |
| 91 | University of Georgia College of Pharmacy | 85.8% | 87.3% | 91.0% | 134 | 89.6% | +3.7 | +28.3 |
| 92 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy | 62.2% | 47.2% | 90.9% | 33 | 91.2% | +43.7 | +28.2 |
| 93 | University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis St. Louis College of Pharmacy | 84.6% | 78.6% | 72.0% | 75 | 69.7% | −6.6 | +9.3 |
| 94 | University of Houston College of Pharmacy | 81.0% | 87.3% | 89.9% | 99 | 89.6% | +2.6 | +27.2 |
| 95 | University of Illinois Chicago Herbert M. and Carol H. Retzky College of Pharmacy | 76.9% | 84.7% | 90.6% | 139 | 89.7% | +5.9 | +27.9 |
| 96 | University of Iowa College of Pharmacy | 75.2% | 78.6% | 84.8% | 79 | 82.2% | +6.2 | +22.1 |
| 97 | University of Kansas School of Pharmacy | 91.5% | 83.2% | 91.6% | 95 | 91.9% | +8.4 | +28.9 |
| 98 | University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy | 74.8% | 71.9% | 92.7% | 124 | 93.1% | +20.8 | +30.0 |
| 99 | University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Pharmacy | 74.7% | 80.0% | 89.0% | 82 | 88.4% | +9.0 | +26.3 |
| 100 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore School of Pharmacy and Health Professions | 68.6% | 57.7% | 69.6% | 23 | 66.7% | +11.9 | +6.9 |
| 101 | University of Maryland School of Pharmacy | 79.8% | 70.9% | 90.7% | 75 | 91.1% | +19.8 | +28.0 |
| 102 | University of Michigan College of Pharmacy | 90.5% | 91.0% | 100.0% | 68 | 100.0% | +9.0 | +37.3 |
| 103 | University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy | 78.0% | 77.0% | 84.1% | 113 | 83.2% | +7.1 | +21.4 |
| 104 | University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy | 75.3% | 66.3% | 89.7% | 87 | 86.3% | +23.4 | +27.0 |
| 105 | University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy | 84.6% | 79.1% | 89.7% | 87 | 87.1% | +10.6 | +27.0 |
| 106 | University of Montana College of Health Skaggs School of Pharmacy | 83.0% | 83.3% | 91.3% | 46 | 89.4% | +8.0 | +28.6 |
| 107 | University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy | 97.9% | 98.2% | 91.1% | 45 | 91.7% | −7.1 | +28.4 |
| 108 | University of New England Westbrook College of Health Professions School of Pharmacy | 75.7% | 75.9% | 86.7% | 30 | 87.9% | +10.8 | +24.0 |
| 109 | University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy | 65.7% | 77.4% | 81.6% | 49 | 81.1% | +4.2 | +18.9 |
| 110 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy | 91.6% | 92.0% | 95.4% | 130 | 94.0% | +3.4 | +32.7 |
| 111 | University of North Texas Health Science Center UNT System College of Pharmacy | 71.4% | 50.0% | 79.7% | 74 | 79.8% | +29.7 | +17.0 |
| 112 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy | 85.5% | 90.0% | 97.5% | 40 | 97.6% | +7.5 | +34.8 |
| 113 | University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy | 90.9% | 84.3% | 92.6% | 94 | 92.9% | +8.3 | +29.9 |
| 114 | University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus School of Pharmacy | 93.2% | 93.2% | 100.0% | 40 | 100.0% | +6.8 | +37.3 |
| 115 | University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy | 80.3% | 82.8% | 91.8% | 98 | 91.3% | +9.0 | +29.1 |
| 116 | University of Saint Joseph School of Pharmacy and Physician Assistant Studies | 61.0% | 60.6% | 82.1% | 28 | 72.7% | +21.5 | +19.4 |
| 117 | University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | 76.4% | 88.4% | 98.8% | 86 | 96.6% | +10.4 | +36.1 |
| 118 | University of South Florida Health Taneja College of Pharmacy | 80.8% | 79.5% | 88.2% | 76 | 84.3% | +8.7 | +25.5 |
| 119 | University of Southern California Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 83.0% | 87.1% | 86.5% | 155 | 84.9% | −0.6 | +23.8 |
| 120 | University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy | 78.5% | 78.3% | 92.7% | 123 | 90.7% | +14.4 | +30.0 |
| 121 | University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy | 87.3% | 79.8% | 89.6% | 96 | 90.5% | +9.8 | +26.9 |
| 122 | University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy | 60.0% | 59.5% | 83.7% | 49 | 82.7% | +24.2 | +21.0 |
| 123 | University of Texas at Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy | 76.8% | 73.0% | 95.5% | 22 | 91.3% | +22.5 | +32.8 |
| 124 | University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 79.8% | 81.1% | 90.5% | 95 | 90.9% | +9.4 | +27.8 |
| 125 | University of Utah College of Pharmacy | 78.8% | 80.4% | 91.4% | 35 | 92.1% | +11.0 | +28.7 |
| 126 | University of Washington School of Pharmacy | 80.9% | 82.4% | 88.6% | 79 | 86.7% | +6.2 | +25.9 |
| 127 | University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | 94.2% | 95.6% | 94.1% | 118 | 94.2% | −1.5 | +31.4 |
| 128 | University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy | 80.6% | 87.5% | 89.5% | 19 | 90.0% | +2.0 | +26.8 |
| 129 | University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy | 85.2% | 75.0% | 97.0% | 66 | 97.0% | +22.0 | +34.3 |
| 130 | University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy | 90.3% | 84.6% | 87.4% | 175 | 86.7% | +2.8 | +24.7 |
| 131 | Virginia Commonwealth University at the Medical College of Virginia Campus School of Pharmacy | 88.0% | 77.4% | 88.6% | 88 | 88.5% | +11.2 | +25.9 |
| 132 | Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 77.3% | 62.4% | 92.5% | 67 | 92.9% | +30.1 | +29.8 |
| 133 | Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 85.4% | 87.7% | 80.3% | 71 | 76.8% | −7.4 | +17.6 |
| 134 | West Coast University School of Pharmacy | 63.8% | 50.9% | 78.9% | 38 | 79.5% | +28.0 | +16.2 |
| 135 | West Virginia University School of Pharmacy | 75.0% | 75.9% | 93.2% | 44 | 93.3% | +17.3 | +30.5 |
| 136 | Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 73.9% | 61.3% | 84.8% | 33 | 83.3% | +23.5 | +22.1 |
| 137 | Western University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy | 76.5% | 84.0% | 92.6% | 95 | 92.9% | +8.6 | +29.9 |
| 138 | Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy | 71.9% | 85.9% | 91.7% | 60 | 90.6% | +5.8 | +29.0 |
| 139 | William Carey University School of Pharmacy | 64.1% | 67.4% | 77.3% | 44 | 76.0% | +9.9 | +14.6 |
| 140 | Wingate University School of Pharmacy | 69.1% | 70.7% | 91.2% | 57 | 90.3% | +20.5 | +28.5 |
| 141 | Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy | 49.3% | 63.3% | 88.0% | 83 | 87.5% | +24.7 | +25.3 |
Source: NABP, “Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates,” prepared March 16, 2026. Change and margin columns calculated by Castleport Research from the printed rounded rates.
Which pharmacy schools had the highest 2025 NAPLEX pass rates?
Four schools reported a 100.0% first-time rate: the University of Michigan, the University of Puerto Rico, Husson University, and Lebanese American University. Their cohorts ranged from 8 to 68 first attempts. This ranks reported rates, not school quality.
Ties share a rank. The attempt count stays beside every rate.
| Rank | School | First attempts | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan College of Pharmacy | 68 | 100.0% |
| 1 | University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus School of Pharmacy | 40 | 100.0% |
| 1 | Husson University College of Health and Pharmacy School of Pharmacy | 10 | 100.0% |
| 1 | Lebanese American University School of Pharmacy | 8 | 100.0% |
| 5 | University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | 86 | 98.8% |
| 6 | Idaho State University L.S. Skaggs College of Pharmacy | 47 | 97.9% |
| 7 | East Tennessee State University Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy | 44 | 97.7% |
| 8 | University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy | 40 | 97.5% |
| 9 | University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy | 66 | 97.0% |
| 10 | University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 61 | 96.7% |
| 11 | University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy | 57 | 96.5% |
| 12 | University at Buffalo The State University of New York School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 82 | 96.3% |
| 13 | Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy | 99 | 96.0% |
| 14 | Union University College of Pharmacy | 24 | 95.8% |
| 15 | University of Texas at Tyler Ben and Maytee Fisch College of Pharmacy | 22 | 95.5% |
Source: NABP’s March 16, 2026 school report. Rates and attempt counts as published.
The four 100% results cover 126 candidates in all. Every one of those candidates passed. A perfect rate from 8 attempts and a perfect rate from 68 attempts are still different-sized results.
Highest 2025 rates among schools with at least 50 first attempts
The 50-attempt cutoff reduces the effect of tiny cohorts. It is a Castleport comparison rule, not an NABP or ACPE standard. Eighty-one of the 141 schools meet it.
| Rank | School | First attempts | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan College of Pharmacy | 68 | 100.0% |
| 2 | University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy | 86 | 98.8% |
| 3 | University of the Incarnate Word Feik School of Pharmacy | 66 | 97.0% |
| 4 | University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 61 | 96.7% |
| 5 | University of Cincinnati James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy | 57 | 96.5% |
| 6 | University at Buffalo The State University of New York School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 82 | 96.3% |
| 7 | Ohio Northern University Raabe College of Pharmacy | 99 | 96.0% |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy | 130 | 95.4% |
| 9 | University of Florida College of Pharmacy | 191 | 94.8% |
| 9 | Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy | 134 | 94.8% |
| 11 | Ferris State University College of Pharmacy | 90 | 94.4% |
| 12 | University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy | 70 | 94.3% |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | 118 | 94.1% |
| 13 | South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions | 51 | 94.1% |
| 15 | Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 64 | 93.8% |
Source: Castleport screen from NABP’s March 16, 2026 report; minimum of 50 first attempts applied by Castleport.
Which schools stayed above 90% for three years in a row?
Six schools had at least 30 first attempts and a first-time rate of at least 90.0% in 2023, 2024, and 2025. This is a consistency screen, not an official measure or a school-quality rating.
| School | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Three-year weighted rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy | 97.9% (n=48) | 98.2% (n=57) | 91.1% (n=45) | 96.0% |
| University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus School of Pharmacy | 93.2% (n=44) | 93.2% (n=44) | 100.0% (n=40) | 95.3% |
| South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions | 92.3% (n=65) | 98.3% (n=58) | 94.1% (n=51) | 94.8% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | 94.2% (n=121) | 95.6% (n=91) | 94.1% (n=118) | 94.5% |
| University of Michigan College of Pharmacy | 90.5% (n=74) | 91.0% (n=78) | 100.0% (n=68) | 93.6% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy | 91.6% (n=143) | 92.0% (n=112) | 95.4% (n=130) | 93.0% |
Source: Castleport screen from NABP’s 2023–2025 school rows. The three-year weighted rate is reconstructed first-time passes divided by first attempts across all three years.
Two of the six—Wisconsin and UNC Chapel Hill—had more than 100 first attempts in at least one year.
Which schools moved the most between 2024 and 2025?
Among the 121 schools with at least 30 first attempts in both years, the largest gain was the University of Hawaii at Hilo, up 43.7 points. The largest decline was Oregon State University, down 17.2 points.
The 30-attempt cutoff is an editorial screen. It does not make the comparison causal, but it keeps very tiny cohorts from owning the top of the list.
Biggest gains under the 30-attempt screen
| School | 2024 attempts / rate | 2025 attempts / rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy | 36 / 47.2% | 33 / 90.9% | +43.7 |
| Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy | 49 / 57.1% | 34 / 94.1% | +37.0 |
| Roosevelt University College of Science, Health and Pharmacy | 42 / 57.1% | 33 / 87.9% | +30.8 |
| Washington State University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 93 / 62.4% | 67 / 92.5% | +30.1 |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center UNT System College of Pharmacy | 84 / 50.0% | 74 / 79.7% | +29.7 |
| West Coast University School of Pharmacy | 57 / 50.9% | 38 / 78.9% | +28.0 |
| Cedarville University School of Pharmacy | 42 / 59.5% | 33 / 84.8% | +25.3 |
| Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy | 98 / 63.3% | 83 / 88.0% | +24.7 |
| University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy | 42 / 59.5% | 49 / 83.7% | +24.2 |
| Western New England University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 31 / 61.3% | 33 / 84.8% | +23.5 |
| University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy | 89 / 66.3% | 87 / 89.7% | +23.4 |
| Touro University Touro College of Pharmacy | 41 / 70.7% | 44 / 93.2% | +22.5 |
Source: Castleport calculation from NABP’s March 16, 2026 school rows. Each year had at least 30 first attempts.
Every decline under the same screen
| School | 2024 attempts / rate | 2025 attempts / rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon State University College of Pharmacy | 57 / 96.5% | 58 / 79.3% | −17.2 |
| Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 73 / 87.7% | 71 / 80.3% | −7.4 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy | 57 / 98.2% | 45 / 91.1% | −7.1 |
| University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis St. Louis College of Pharmacy | 112 / 78.6% | 75 / 72.0% | −6.6 |
| Touro University - California College of Pharmacy | 66 / 80.3% | 44 / 75.0% | −5.3 |
| South College School of Pharmacy | 50 / 86.0% | 43 / 81.4% | −4.6 |
| South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions | 58 / 98.3% | 51 / 94.1% | −4.2 |
| Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy | 52 / 80.8% | 36 / 77.8% | −3.0 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy | 91 / 95.6% | 118 / 94.1% | −1.5 |
| Pacific University School of Pharmacy | 74 / 67.6% | 39 / 66.7% | −0.9 |
| University of Southern California Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 155 / 87.1% | 155 / 86.5% | −0.6 |
Source: Castleport calculation from NABP’s March 16, 2026 school rows. Each year had at least 30 first attempts.
In a year when the national rate rose 10.9 points, 11 of the 121 schools in this screen declined. Six of those 11 started above 86.0% in 2024.
How different can NAPLEX rates be within one school?
NABP’s separate branch, campus, and pathway report covers 28 schools. D’Youville’s 2025 branch-report total was 70.0%, while its campus pathway was 82.5% and its online pathway was 45.0%—a 37.5-point gap inside one school.
The branch report groups exams by the location or pathway the school reported. A location is a campus or branch reported by the school. A pathway is a route through the degree, such as an accelerated or online route.
Within that branch report, the site counts add to the report’s own “All” row for each of the 28 schools we checked.
Largest 2025 gaps in the branch report
| School | Branch-report overall rate | Highest reported site or pathway | Lowest reported site or pathway | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D’Youville University School of Pharmacy | 70.0% | Campus 82.5% (n=40) | Online 45.0% (n=20) | 37.5 |
| Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions | 89.5% | Distance 95.5% (n=44) | Phoenix 60.0% (n=10) | 35.5 |
| University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy | 89.6% | Austin 96.7% (n=60) | San Antonio 77.8% (n=36) | 18.9 |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy | 78.3% | SJ 89.7% (n=39) | HD 71.6% (n=67) | 18.1 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy | 89.7% | Columbia 100.0% (n=23) | Springfield 83.3% (n=24) | 16.7 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy | 92.7% | Knoxville 100.0% (n=19) | Nashville 84.0% (n=25) | 16.0 |
| University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences | 77.2% | On-campus 79.4% (n=68) | Remote 63.6% (n=11) | 15.8 |
| University of Georgia College of Pharmacy | 91.0% | Albany 100.0% (n=7) | Savannah 84.2% (n=19) | 15.8 |
| Duquesne University School of Pharmacy | 91.7% | Traditional 93.6% (n=94) | Online 78.6% (n=14) | 15.0 |
| Nova Southeastern University Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy | 80.8% | San Juan 90.0% (n=60) | Main – Ft. Lauderdale 76.9% (n=121) | 13.1 |
Source: NABP, “Branch, Campus, and Pathway Reports for 2025 Graduates,” prepared May 21, 2026. Gap column calculated by Castleport Research.
Across all 28 schools, the median difference between the highest and lowest reported site or pathway was 6.1 points. Nine schools had a gap of at least 15 points. When every compared site had at least 20 exams, 17 schools remained and the median gap was 4.6 points.
Four schools use the exact label online or remote for a separately reported route: D’Youville, Colorado, Duquesne, and St. John Fisher. The online or remote rate was lower in all four. Four schools are too few for a broad conclusion, and several routes were small.
ACPE’s June 2025 Board update reported four letters for campus pass-rate discrepancies in the prior review cycle. That was separate from letters based on the overall school benchmark or failure count.
Source: ACPE’s June 2025 Board update.
Two branch-report totals differ from the main school report
For 26 of the 28 schools, the branch report’s 2025 “All” count and rate match the main school report. Two differ by one candidate:
- Texas A&M: 109 exams at 86.2% in the branch report; 110 first attempts at 85.5% in the main report.
- Roseman: 106 exams at 78.3% in the branch report; 107 first attempts at 77.6% in the main report.
NABP says the branch report groups examinees by the school’s reported location. It does not explain these two one-candidate differences in the report. We use the main school report for the full table and label branch-report figures as branch-report figures.
Source: NABP’s branch report and main school report.
Why does class size change what a NAPLEX pass rate means?
A pass rate is a fraction. The smaller the class, the more one result moves it. Seventeen of the 141 schools had fewer than 30 first attempts in 2025. In the six smallest programs, one result moved the rate by about 9.7 points on average.
| Class size in 2025 | Schools | Average change caused by one result |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 6 | about 9.7 points |
| 20 to 39 | 32 | about 3.2 points |
| 40 to 79 | 54 | about 1.8 points |
| 80 or more | 49 | about 0.9 points |
Source: Castleport calculation from NABP’s published first-attempt counts. The last column is the mean of 100 divided by each school’s cohort size within the band.
At a school with 8 first attempts, one result is worth 12.5 percentage points. At a school with 191, one result is worth about 0.5 point.
How the 2025 school rates are distributed
| 2025 first-time rate | Schools |
|---|---|
| 100% | 4 |
| 95.0%–99.9% | 12 |
| 90.0%–94.9% | 41 |
| 80.0%–89.9% | 54 |
| 70.0%–79.9% | 21 |
| Below 70.0% | 9 |
Source: Castleport count of the 141 nonblank 2025 school rates in NABP’s March 16, 2026 report.

Chart source: NABP’s 141 current school rates. Visualization by Castleport Research, last verified August 5, 2026.
The median school rate was 88.2%. Exactly 35 schools were at 92.9% or higher, and 35 were at 81.1% or lower. Those are count-based cut points from this dataset, not an official grading scale.
Can you compare a school’s 2025 NAPLEX rate with 2024?
You can compare the reported rates, but a change does not prove that a school got better or worse. The exam-content outline changed during 2025, the annual benchmark changed, and cohort sizes fell unevenly.
Three limits matter:
- The content outline changed during the year. The new outline took effect May 1, 2025, but the school report does not show how many candidates tested before or after that date.
- The comparison benchmark changed. The published two-SD figure moved from 46.8% to 62.7%.
- The cohorts shrank. First attempts fell 11.4% in one year and 19.8% in two years. Smaller groups make each result move the rate more.
Comparing schools within 2025 avoids comparing a 2024 cohort with a 2025 cohort, but schools can still have different mixes of exams taken before and after May 1. Cohort size, admissions, student mix, and exam timing also remain different.
If you need one school number, use its first-time rate beside its first-attempt count. Never quote the percentage alone.
First-time candidate counts fell from 2023 to 2025
| Graduation year | First attempts |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,305 |
| 2024 | 11,136 |
| 2025 | 9,869 |
Source: NABP’s March 16, 2026 school report.
That is 2,436 fewer first attempts in two years, a fall of 19.8%. Among the 125 schools with at least 40 first attempts in 2023 and a current 2025 count, 110 had fewer in 2025. The median change in that group was −18.6%.
Source: Castleport calculation from NABP’s school-level attempt counts.
How did Castleport produce this NAPLEX dataset?
We assembled all 144 named school rows from NABP’s current report, compared them row by row with a separately produced extraction, checked the totals against NABP’s national figures, and reconciled the 2025 difference against the archived January report.
The method is fully reproducible:
1. Primary files. We used the current March 16 school report as the main source, the archived January 22 school report for the version check, the February 2 ten-year report for national trends, the May 21 branch report for site and pathway splits, and ACPE’s own policy documents for accreditation rules.
2. Row extraction. We recorded first attempts, first-time rates, all attempts, and all-attempt rates for every named school row in 2023, 2024, and 2025. A dash stayed missing; it was never turned into zero.
3. Separate comparison. One complete row-by-row extraction was compared with a separately produced extraction. School names were normalized only enough to join the files. The numeric fields matched.
4. Aggregate reconciliation. The 2023 and 2024 detail rows matched NABP’s attempt totals. The 2025 detail rows were short by one first attempt and two all attempts. The archived Harding row supplied exactly those counts and reproduced the current summary.
5. Reconstructed whole-number passes. NABP rounds rates to one decimal place. For every nonblank first-time school-year cell, we tested every whole number from zero through the attempt count. All 426 cells had exactly one integer pass count that reproduced the printed rate after one-decimal rounding. Failures equal attempts minus passes. These fields are Castleport calculations, not NABP fields.
6. Standard deviation check. The version audit uses the sample standard deviation because that is the calculation that reproduces NABP’s printed 11.5 and 62.7 after the archived Harding row is included.
7. Derived measures. Year-over-year change is a difference in percentage points. Benchmark cushion is the school’s printed rate minus that year’s published two-SD figure. Three-year weighted rates use reconstructed passes divided by first attempts. The 30-attempt and 50-attempt screens are Castleport comparison rules, not official standards.
8. What we did not verify. We did not audit NABP’s candidate-level records, test forms, school admissions, or ACPE’s private correspondence. We did not fill missing official values. We verified the public reports and the arithmetic built from them.
Downloadable files
The underlying NABP and ACPE facts remain credited to their source documents. Castleport’s added fields are the reconstructed counts, comparisons, screens, version reconciliation, and visualizations described here.
What does this NAPLEX data not show?
These rates show how a graduating group performed within NABP’s reporting rules. They do not isolate teaching quality, explain why a rate changed, or reveal ACPE’s private program-level decisions. NABP also says the values may change as more graduates complete exams.
- It does not measure a school by itself. A pass rate cannot separate teaching, admissions, student mix, exam timing, cohort size, and chance.
- It does not prove why 2025 rose. The MPJE comparison and May 1 outline change give context, not a cause.
- It excludes out-of-window testing. NABP excludes people who tested before or after the reported year, even when their graduation year is listed.
- It may change after publication. NABP says values are subject to change as graduates complete more exams.
- Small groups move fast. A few results can shift a small school’s rate by many points.
- It does not reveal ACPE letters. Public rounded data cannot reproduce the official 2024 high-failure letter count.
- The MPJE groups are not matched. Not every NAPLEX candidate takes that exam.
- Reconstructed counts are Castleport fields. They are reproducible from the printed data but are not raw counts released by NABP.
- The comparison screens are editorial. The 30- and 50-attempt cutoffs are not official standards.
- Rates are rounded. Very small differences can sit inside one-decimal rounding.
For a current accreditation status, use ACPE’s Program Lookup. For licensure rules, use the board of pharmacy for the jurisdiction where the candidate plans to apply.
Common questions about NAPLEX pass rates
These answers use the official NABP and ACPE sources listed below and the reproducible Castleport calculations explained above. Last verified August 5, 2026.
What was the first-time NAPLEX pass rate in 2025?
It was 86.8% across 9,869 first attempts by 2025 graduates of ACPE-accredited institutions who also tested in 2025. The all-attempt rate was 85.6% across 10,632 attempts.
Why does NABP also show 85.7% for 2025?
The 86.8% figure weights every first attempt equally. The 85.7% figure is the mean of 142 school rates, so each school has equal weight even when class sizes differ. Both figures appear in NABP’s March 16, 2026 report.
Which pharmacy school had the highest 2025 NAPLEX pass rate?
Four schools reported 100.0%: the University of Michigan, the University of Puerto Rico, Husson University, and Lebanese American University. Their cohorts ranged from 8 to 68 first attempts. Michigan was the only 100% school with at least 50 first attempts.
What is a good NAPLEX pass rate?
There is no official “good” cutoff. In 2025, the candidate-wide first-time rate was 86.8% and the median school rate was 88.2%. Thirty-five schools were at 92.9% or higher, and 35 were at 81.1% or lower. ACPE’s 62.7% benchmark is an accreditation monitoring line, not a definition of school quality.
What score passes the NAPLEX?
NABP says a scaled score of 75 or higher represents a passing result. Candidates now receive Pass or Fail rather than a reported scaled score, and a scaled score of 75 does not mean 75% of questions were correct.
Why did NAPLEX pass rates jump in 2025?
No proven cause has been published. The NAPLEX first-time rate rose 10.9 points while the MPJE first-time rate fell 0.8 point, but those are not matched candidate groups. A new NAPLEX Content Outline took effect May 1, 2025, yet NABP’s school report does not show how many 2025 graduates tested before or after that date.
What happens if a pharmacy school’s NAPLEX pass rate is too low?
ACPE Policy 11.6.1 starts with a letter and required action plan after a first occurrence. Repeat occurrences within seven years can lead to a focused evaluation, a Board appearance, probation, and after a fifth occurrence, possible withdrawal of accreditation.
Does a high NAPLEX pass rate prove a school is better?
No. It is one outcome for one graduating group in one year. The rate cannot separate teaching, admissions, student mix, exam timing, cohort size, and chance. Read the percentage beside the attempt count and use it as one measure, not a full school rating.
Why is Harding University blank in the current 2025 table?
NABP’s March 16, 2026 report says Harding students graduate only in December and will be counted in the next report. An archived January 22 version listed Harding with 1 first attempt and 2 all attempts, both at 0.0%. The current detail table removed those values, while the current summary still matches the earlier 142-school version.
How many people took the NAPLEX in 2025?
NABP reports 9,869 first attempts by 2025 graduates of ACPE-accredited institutions who tested in 2025. That was down from 11,136 in 2024 and 12,305 in 2023.
Does NABP report separate rates for branch campuses and online pathways?
Yes. NABP’s separate branch, campus, and pathway report covers 28 schools. D’Youville’s 2025 branch-report total was 70.0%, while its campus pathway was 82.5% and its online pathway was 45.0%.
Where can I find a school’s official NAPLEX rate?
NABP publishes the school report on its Data & Research page. ACPE also requires accredited programs to post the latest first-time NAPLEX results from NABP on their own websites.
Sources
Every consequential factual claim on this page traces to a primary source.
- NABP, *North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination Passing Rates for 2023–2025 Graduates*, prepared March 16, 2026
- NABP, the archived January 22, 2026 version of the same school report
- NABP, *NAPLEX and MPJE Passing Rates for 2015–2025 ACPE-Accredited US Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy Graduates*, prepared February 2, 2026
- NABP, *Branch, Campus, and Pathway Reports for 2025 Graduates*, prepared May 21, 2026
- NABP Data & Research
- ACPE, Policy 11.6.1 update and 60% floor, effective July 1, 2025
- ACPE Update, Spring 2026, including the school-posting requirement
- ACPE official update on its January and June 2025 Board meetings
- NABP NAPLEX Content Outline, effective May 1, 2025
- NABP NAPLEX overview
- NABP Candidate Application Bulletin: eligibility and licensure roles
- NABP Candidate Application Bulletin: exam results and passing standard
- NABP explanation of the scaled passing score
How to cite this page
Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team. “NAPLEX Pass Rates by Pharmacy School (2023–2025).” Castleport Research. Last updated August 5, 2026. https://castleporttestprep.com/research/naplex-pass-rates-by-pharmacy-school/
The underlying pass rates are NABP’s and should be credited to NABP. The reconstructed pass and fail counts, benchmark-cushion calculations, version reconciliation, NAPLEX–MPJE comparison, branch-gap analysis, comparison screens, and visualizations are Castleport Research work.
Dataset
naplex-pass-rates-by-school-2023-2025.csv contains 144 named school records across 2023–2025, including 141 schools with a current 2025 first-time rate. It includes attempt counts, printed rates, reconstructed first-time pass counts, year-over-year changes, and benchmark-margin fields.
Version history
| Version | Date | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | August 5, 2026 | First publication. Built from NABP’s March 16 report and reconciled against the January 22 archived version. |
Source: Castleport Research dataset log.
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